Circuit-controlling mechanism



l. W. BROEGGER.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JANIZ6, I917.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

4 UNITED STATES PATENT onnron.

IVAR W. BROEGGER, OF NEWARK, NEW J EBSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SPLITDORFELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

Application filed January 26, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Ivan: W. BROEG'GER, a subject of the King of Norway,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-ControllingMechanism, of which the following is a specification This inventionrelates to means of controlling electrical circuits wherein a safeguardis required to protect certain elements of the circuit that wouldotherwise be liable to suffer injury owing to the abnormal currentconditions which may occur therein and is particularly applicable foruse in connection with ignition systems for internal comling mechanism,I have chosen to describe its use in connection with an ignition system.

In the battery ignition system which is a typical form of those abovementioned, and which is employed to a large extent in the equipment ofautovehicle engines, there is involved generally. a storage battery connected in circuit with the primary of a high tension induction coil andthe contact points of a timer. The function of the timer is to make andbreak the battery circuit through the primary coil, and for this purposesaid timer is usually operated by some engine member in order that itmay interrupt the primary circuit at the proper rate and in the correcttime relation with the angular position of the crank shaft, or in otherwords said timer so controls the primary circuit that the high tensioncurrents induced in the secondary may bev delivered to the enginecylinders in the well known manner. Considering these facts it willreadily be seen that in systems of this ty e there is always thepossibility that when t e engine comes to rest the timer contact pointsmay be left in closed position, allowing the battery to discharge itselfthrough the low resistance primary coil, which not only runs the batterydown but also impairs said primary coil. These hazardous conditions areliable to occur whether the open or-closed Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Serial No. 144,639.

circuit timer is used. By open circuit type I mean one which operates inthe reverse order of that shown in Figure 1, and in distinction from theflip type which cannot be left in circuit closing position. It is thenone of the chief objects of this invention to provide a simple andimproved means to be used in connection with the primary circuit adaptedto utilize the abnormal current so produced when the timer contacts areleft in closed position for the purpose of operating a thermostaticdevice to automatically open the primary circuit, thereby relieving thesame from the possibility of inury.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which togetherwith this automatic circuit opening means involves a new arrangement ofelements such that the automatically actuated elements may be controlledmanually for the purpose of opening the primary circuit.

Another object is the provision in my new arrangement of a singlemanually operable means such as a hand operated button, the actuation ofwhich serves to open the circuit as above described, and also serves toclose said circuit and restore the various elements of the device inposition for either manual or automatic operation.

\Vith these and other objects in view my invention is furthercharacterized by certain novel features of construction and operation,all of which will readily be understood by those skilled in the artafter having studied the following description, taken Fig. 2 shows aside elevation of Fig. 1,

with the side casing cut off along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and with oneof the electromagnets removed to illustrate the arrangement of themanually operated plunger. This view shows the plunger in the positionit takes when operated to close the main contact points, the springmember being seen under tension ready to restore said plunger as soon asthe pressure is released from the button.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the normal relation of the armaturecontrolled by the electromagnets and one of the switchin members.

liefrring to the drawings, 1 is a casin member which ma be pressed andforme out of flat stock. l Vhen completely formed said casing assumes asuitable rectangular shape having one end left open excepting for theinwardly extending portions 2 and 3. Across said open end an insulatingblock 4 is fixed as by means of rivets 5 passing through portions 2 and3 of casin 1. Said block may be made of any good lnsulating materialsuch as fiber. A supporting member 6 is designed to supportsubstantially the entire structure of my controlling device, which may,if desirable, be insulated in a suitable manner from the casing 1 as bya one piece insulating strip 50. Said member rests within the casing 1bein secured thereto by screws 7. At one en the supporting base 6 has abracket 9 turned upward therefrom at right angles. Mounted upon thebracket 9 as by screws 10 are two electromagnets 11, the function ofwhich will later be explained. Said bracket when being shaped isprovided with two small integral strips which are turned back to form apair of eyelet members 12 and 13 which support a fulcrum pin 14. Mountedupon said pin by means of lugs 15 for pivotal movement thereabout is aswitch lever 16 having its ends bent over to form the depending arms 17and 18. A coiled spring 46 having one end resting against arm 17 tendsto tilt the lever 16 to the left looking at Fig. 2.

Centrally arranged within the casing 1 and extending between magnets 11is an actuating plunger rod 19 one end of which J is headed as at 20,the other end having a thread 21 cut thereon. Guidingly supported in acollar 22, which in turn is suita ly fastened to the casing 1, is amanually operable button 23 having-a shank 24 with a tapped holetherein. The threaded end of plunger 19-is-screwed into' the shank 24whereb said plunger is adapted to beoperated y the button 23. Saidplunger rod when thus assembled passes through a hole in the dependingarm 17 and also through a leaf spring 25, which spring spans the casing1 and is loosely supported thereby in slots 26. Said spring is securelyfastened to rod 19 by means of two adjusting nuts 27 and 28 and servesto control said rod in a manner that will be described hereinafter.

The said hole in the end of arm 17 is preferably made somewhat largerthan plunger 19 in order that switch lever 16 may tilt freely up anddown on its fulcrum 14. Supported by the uprights 29 and 30 by means ofslots therein is a flexible strip 31 which carries an armature 32 forthe magnets 11. This method of supporting the armature enables a quickand easy assembly. Said armature has a clearance hole through which therod 19 passes in order to permit the magnets 11 to actuate the armature32 independently of said rod. This structure is clearly seen in Fig. 3wherein the arm 18 is below the armature 32 thereby holding theresilient member 31 normally under tension. After the switch lever hasbeen operated, as will .be hereinafter pointed out, the arm 18 iswithdrawn from below the armature 32'and due to the tension of thespring 31, the armature 32 will be forced to the position shown in Fig.2 wherein it is seen that the armature 32 engages the end of arm 18holding it in circuit closing position. Fastened to the arm 18 of switchlever 16 is a flexible member 33 which carries one of the main switchcontacts 34. The other of said contacts 35 is fastened to a bracket 36and insulated therefrom by a suitable bushing passing through the end.

of 36 and insulators 51.

Supported on an upright 37 is a thermostat avin a thermostatic couple 38composed pre erably of a strip made of two different materials whoseexpansion coeflicients differ from each other widel 39 is a heating coilof suitable materia Wound about the strip 38 and insulated therefrom asby mica strips 40. The heat generated by a sufiiciently heavy currentflowing in coil 39 bends the strip 38 in a given direction as is wellunderstood by those familiar with such devices. Mounted upon the freeend of the strip 38 is a' contact 41 ada ted to engage a contact .42when operate by said thermostat, but normally in open circuit relationtherewith. {The contact 42 is fastened to and insulated as by insulators52 from the horizontal part of bracket 36. The insulating block 4 hasthree terminal posts 43,44, and 45. Post 43 is connected internally toone end of heating coil 39, the other end of which leads to the maincontact 35. Posts 44 and 45 are connected respectively to switch lever16 and contact 42. Said lever is also connected to one terminal of themagnets 11, the other terminal of said magnets being connected to thethermostatic strip 38.

Considering the operation of my improved controlling mechanism, Fig. '1shows the relative arrangement of parts when the main contacts 34 and 35are open. To close these contacts it is only necessary to apply apressure to the button 23 which moves the same together with rod 19 tothe position shown in Fig. 2. Such longitudinal movement of plunger rod19 causes the nut 28 to engage the depending arm 17 which tilts theswitch lever 16 to the right looking at Fig. 2 thereby carrying contact34 into engagement with contact 35. As soon as lever 16 assumes thisposition the spring 31, which while said contacts are open is flexed asseen in Fig. 1, straightens out and thereby moves armature 32 in linewith the end of arm 18 of lever 16. Upon the pressure being releasedfrom button 23 to spring 25, which it will be understood had beenflexed, straightens out to its horizontal position, at the same timerestoring plunger 19 to its normal position with the head 20 restingclosely to armature 32 and with a considerable clearance between nut 28and arm 17 as shown in Fig. 1. The arm 18 now bearing against the sideof armature 32 holds switch lever 16 in its contact closing positionagainst the action of the spring 46. As

hereinbefore noted the contacts 34 and 35' may be opened either by,automatic or b manual means. When conditions occur suc that a circuit iscompleted through electromagnets 11 said magnets are energized toattract the armature 32 upwardly out of the path of the arm 18. Thispermits spring 46 to tilt the switch lever 16 inwardly to open contacts34 and 35. It will be noted that the clearance above referred to between,nut 28 and arm 17, provided as the plunger 19 automatically assumes itsnormal position after being operated, now serves a useful purpose. Thatis, when the armature 32 has been attracted away from arm 18 and theswitch lever 16 is rotated about its axisby spring 46, the arm 17 ofsaid lever is permitted, due to said clearance, to accomplish itsmovement. In thismanner the small spring 46 merely has to do work onswitch lever 16 and is not obliged to restore or assist in restoring theplunger rod 19. If however it be desired to operate my de vice manuallyfor opening said contacts a pull ,is applied to button 23 which movesthe rod 19 upwardly and causes the head 20 to carry the armature 32therewith with the same results as those described in connection withthe automatic operation. In this case the plunger has been displacedfrom its normal position in the other direction and spring 25 is flexedoppositely from the first operation. As soon as the pull is releasedfrom button 23 said spring will restore rod 19 to its normal posltionindependently of and without affecting any of the other elements.

Referring to the application of my controlling mechanism to an ignitionsystem there is shown a battery B, an induction coil having primary andsecondary coils P and S, and timer contacts 47 and 48 actuated by saidautomatic means.

ratus is associated, is to be started, the operator presses in on thebutton. 23" which action closes the main contacts 34 and 35. A

circuit may now be traced from battery B through coil P to post-44,thence to lever 16, contacts 34, 35, coil 39, post 43, timer contacts47, 48 to ground and back to battery thereby giving a complete primarycircuit, the operation of which serves to furnish the ignition currentfor. the engine. When it is desired to stop the en ine the button 23 ispulled outwardly whic as already explained, opens contacts 34 and 35 andconsequently breaks the primary circuit. Should for any reason theengine stop without opening said circuit, and in such a position thatthe timer contacts remain closed, the battery would then be closedthrough a circuit of comparatively low resistance with the result of anabnormally high current. This high current passing through the coil 39heats up the thermostatic couple 38 causing the same to deflect andclose contacts 41 and 42. Immediately this occurs a second circuit maybe traced from battery B, post 45, contacts 42, 41, strip 38, electro-manets 11, lever 16, contacts 34, 35, heating C011 39, post 43, closedcontacts 47, 48 and thence to ground. Thus the magnets 11 are energizedand automatically actuate the armature 32 to open the circuit asdescribed. The primary circuit is in this way relieved of the abnormallyhigh current before any damage can be done, and the thermostat thenreturns to its normal position.

By my invention I am enabled to produce a circuit controlling mechanismwherein circuit opening devices may be actuated'automatically ormanually and in either case independently of the other. I have alsoprovided to have this manual means further serve to operate said devicefor the purpose of closing the circuit, and also to restore Anotherfeature is that the single manually operable circuit controlling meansassumes the same normal inoperative position independently of the otherelements after having been actuated cui-tsin a manner similar to thatdescribed.

lever, a manually operable non-indicatin rod movable in one direction tomove sai lever and close said contacts,'flexible means to hold saidcontacts closed, athermostat operatedby excessive current in said.circu1t,

' means brought into service by said thermostat to move said flexiblemeans and thereby cause an automatic openin of said contacts, said rodalso being movabfia in the other direction independently of said leverto efiect an opening of said contacts, and means for restoring said rodto its nonindicating posi-' tion, as described.

2. In an electrical circuit, a switch having two contacts one of whichis carried by a lever, a manually operable rod movable in one directionto actuate said lever and close said contacts, electro magnetic meansbrought into service by a thermostat to automatically open said contactswhen the current in said circuit becomes excessive, said rod also beingoperable in the other direction to effect a manual opening of saidcontacts, and means to automatically restore said rod to the sameinoperative position after having been moved in either direction.

3. In an electrical circuit, a switch device having switch contacts insaid circuit, a lever carrying one of said contacts, a plunger manuallymovable in one direction to actuate said lever to close said contacts,means independent of said plunger to hold said contacts closed, means toautomatically act on said first mentioned means to open said contactswhen the current in said circuit becomes excessive, said plunger beingmovable in the other direction to manually open said switch contacts,and means to restore said plunger to normal osition.

4. In an electrica circuit, a switch having switch contacts in saidcircuit, a lever car ing one of said contacts, a plunger manual ymovable H in one direction to actuate said lever to close said contacts,means independent of said plunger coacting with said lever to hold saidcontacts closed, thermostatic means automatically actuated when thecurrent in said circuit becomes excessive for acting on the firstmentioned means for causin said contacts to be opened, said plungerbeing movable in the opposite direction to manually'open said switchcontacts, and a resilient member for restoring said plunger to itsnormal inoperative position.

5. A switch for an electrical circuit havmg in comblnation, switchcontacts in said circuit, a switch lever carrying one of said magnethaving a flexibly mounted armature normally held in restraint by saidswitch lever, a pair of auxiliary contacts for closing a circuit throughsaid electromagnet, a plunger rod passing through both said lever andarmature and adapted for relative movement with respect to each, athermostat operable when an excessive current flows in said circuit toclose a circuit through said pair of auxiliary contacts to bring saidmagnets into service, said rod when manually moved in one directioncoactin with said lever to close said contacts and a low said restrainedarmature to move to engage and hold said lever in contact closingposition, said magnets when energized acting on said armature to move itout of engagement with the lever and into the restrained position, saidrod when manually moved in the other direction coacting with saidarmature to also move it out of engagement with the lever and intorestrained sition, means on said rod to automatical y restore the sameindependently of both the switch lever and armature to its normalinoperative position after having been actuated in either direction andmeans for moving the lever to open said contacts.

6. A switch for an electrical circuit havin in combination, anelectromagnet, a switch lever, switch contacts, an armature, athermostat, a base member supporting the above mentioned elements, acaslng carrying said base member and elements, a plunger rod actuated bya manually operated button said button bein guidingly arranged in saicasin said ro being movable to engage said lever and thereby close saidcontacts, said armature serving to hold the switch lever in contactclosing position, said thermostat serving tobring said magnets intovoperation to remove the armature from said lever holding position, saidplunger rod also being movable to manuall remove the armature from saidlever holding sition, a leaf spring supported by said casing and actingto restore said rod and button to the same normal position after havingbeen operated to either close or open said switch contacts, andresilient means acting on said switch lever to open said contacts aftersaid armature has been removed from said holding position.

7, In an electrical circuit in combination, a pair of switch contactsfor closing said cir' cuit, a switch lever on which one of said contactsis mounted, a single manually o rated plunger for moving said lever to cldse or open said contacts, an armature engaging and holding said leverin its closed contact position, an electromagnet for acting on saidarmature to withdraw it from said lever holding position, automaticmeans for bringing said electromagnet into service 65 contacts andpivotally mounted, an electro when said circuit remains closed for anab- 130 normal period and means for moving said switch lever to opencircuit position after said armature has been acted on by saidelectromagnet.

8. In an electrical circuit in combination, a pair of switch contactsfor closing said circuit, a pivotal switch lever having two projectingarms one of which carries one of said contacts, a manually operatedplunger coacting with the other of said arms to close .said contacts, anarmature engaging the arm carrying said contact to hold said contact inclosed position, an electromagnet for acting on said armature towithdraw it from said engagement with said lever arm, automatic meansfor bringing said electromagnet into service when said circuit remainsclosed for an abnormal period and spring means acting on the secondmentioned arm of said switch lever to move said lever and firstmentioned arm to open circuit position when said armature has been actedon by said electromagnet.

9. In an electrical circuit in combination, a pair of switch contactsfor closing said circuit, a pivotally mounted switch lever having twoprojecting arms one of which carries one of said contacts, an armaturemounted in operative relationship with the arm carrying said contact, amanually operated plunger, means carried by said plunger for engagingthe other of said arms whereby when said plunger is operated in onedirection said contacts are closed, means associated with said armaturefor carrying said armature into the path of movement of said armcarrying said contact when the said contact is moved to closed positionby said plunger, means carried by said plunger for engaging saidarmature to move it from the contact engaging position, an electroma netfor acting on said armature to also wit draw it from said engagementwith said lever'arm, automatic means for bringing said electromagnetinto service when said circuit remains closed for an abnormal period andmeans for moving said switch lever to open circuit position after saidarmature has been withdrawn. from the path of movement of said arm bysaid electromagnet or said plunger.

10. In an electrical circuit in combination, a pair of switch contactsfor closing said circuit, a switch lever having two projecting arms oneof which carries one of said contacts, a manually operated plunger rodpassing through the other of said switch arms and acting thereupon toclose said contacts, an electromagnet having an armature normallycarried in such a manner that when said contacts are closed it is movedinto the path of movement of said contact carrying arm to hold saidcontacts closed, a thermostat for automatically bringing saidelectromagnet into service when said circuit remains closed for anabnormal period to withdraw said armature to normal position, meansassociated with said plunger rod for engaging said armature whereby saidarmature may be manually withdrawn from said contact closing position,and means on the switch lever to move to open said contacts after saidarmature has been moved to normal position.

11. In an electrical circuit incombination, a pair of switch contactsfor closing said circuit, a switch lever on which one of said contactsis mounted, a single manually op erated plunger for moving said lever toclose or open said contacts, an armature for engaging and holding saidlever in its closed contact position, an electromagnet for acting onsaid armature to withdraw it from said lever holding position, athermostat for automatically bringing said electromagnet into serviceWhen said circuit remains closed for an abnormal period, means formoving said switch lever to open circuit position after said armaturehas beenacted on by said electromagnet and means to restore said plungerto its normal'position independently of said switch leverafter saidplunger has been operated.

12. In an electrical circuit in combination,

a heating coil, a pair of switch contacts for closing said circuitthrough said heating coil, a switch lever carrying one of said contacts,a single manually operated spring restored plunger rod for moving saidlever to close said contacts, an armature engaging and holding saidlever in its closed contact position, a pair of auxiliary contacts normally separated, a thermostatic couple closely adjacent said heatingcoil carrying one of said auxiliary contacts, an electromagnet incooperative relationship with said armature and controlled by saidauxiliary contacts whereby an excessive current through the heating coilbrings said magnets into service to withdraw said armature from itscircuit holding position and means for operating the switch lever toopen the contacts after said armature has been removed from said closedposition.

13. In an electrical circuit in combination, a pair of switch contactsfor closing said circuit, a switch lever carrying one of said contacts,an electromagnet having an armature supported on a resilient member,said armature being normally held by said switch lever in such positionas to tension said resilient member, a plunger manually. movable toengage and move said lever to close said contacts and to release saidarmature whereby the tension of the resilient member moves said armatureto engage said switch lever to hold said contacts in closed position,means responsive to a prolonged flow of current in said clrcuit forcausing sald electromagnet to move said armature to normal position,means for moving the switch lever to open said contacts after saidarmature has been moved to normal position, said plunger alsocooperating with said armature to manually move the same for the purposedescribed' 14. A switch for an electrical circuit having in combination,switch contacts, an elec tromagnet having an armature supported on aleaf spring normally under tension, a switch lever carrying one of saidcontacts and normally holding said leaf spring under tension, a plun rrod passin through said armature and eld in norma position by a secondleaf spring, said plunger when operated acting on said switch lever toclose said contacts and to withdraw the switch lever from engagementwith said armature whereby said first mentioned leaf sprin moves thearmature to engage the switcfi lever to hold said contacts closed, saidsecand leaf spring acting to return said plunger to normal positionafter having been operated and means depending on the prolonged flow .ofcurrent in said circuit for causing said electromagnet to withdraw saidarmature from said circuit closing position, said plunger serving alsoto withdraw said armature from said circuit closing positionsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof I 'afiix my signature.

IVAR W. BROEGGER.

